Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having a passenger compartment, an anchorage system for securing a child restraint disposed in the passenger compartment, the anchorage system including a latchable bar member, a child restraint installation system coupled to the anchorage system, the child restraint installation system including a trigger member, a sensor contact member, a compression member, a retaining member, and a sensor, and at least one controller in communication with the sensor, the at least one controller being configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, generate a first notification signal and, in response to satisfaction of a second operating condition, generate a second notification signal.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine includes a rotor assembly, stator, stator windings, and a coolant manifold. The rotor assembly includes a rotor and a rotor shaft. The stator is spaced apart from the rotor by a stator-rotor airgap and has stator teeth defining enclosed stator slots. Distal ends of adjacent stator teeth are joined together or integrally formed such that the enclosed stator slots are not contiguous with the airgap. The stator windings constructed from hairpin or bar-type conductors extend axially through the stator within the enclosed stator slots. The coolant manifold is in fluid communication with a coolant supply and configured to seal against an axial end surface of the stator to enclose a portion of the stator windings. The manifold receives and directs coolant from the coolant supply into the enclosed stator slots through the axial end surface to cool the stator via forced convection.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having a passenger compartment, an anchorage system for securing a child restraint disposed in the passenger compartment, the anchorage system including a latchable bar member, a child restraint installation system coupled to the anchorage system, the child restraint installation system including a trigger member, a sensor contact member, a compression member, a retaining member, and a sensor, and at least one controller in communication with the sensor, the at least one controller being configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, generate a first notification signal and, in response to satisfaction of a second operating condition, generate a second notification signal.

Abstract: A selectable torque transfer system includes an input member to receive an input torque, and an output member that is selectively coupled to the input member. The selectable torque transfer system also includes an engaging member disposed between the input member and the output member and a biasing element configured to urge the engaging member towards a first position. The selectable torque transfer system further includes an electrically-powered solenoid configured to actuate the engaging member to a second position thereby enabling torque transfer from the input member to the output member.

Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine and a first electric machine each configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. A second electric machine is coupled to the engine to provide torque to start the engine from an inactive state. A high-voltage power source is configured to power both of the first electric machine and the second electric machine over a high-voltage bus. A propulsion controller is programmed to start the engine using cranking torque output from the second electric machine powered by the high-voltage power source. The controller is also programmed to operate both of the first electric machine and the combustion engine to propel the vehicle in response to an acceleration demand greater than a threshold. The controller is further programmed to decouple the engine and propel the vehicle using the first electric machine in response to vehicle speed less than a speed threshold.

Abstract: A device is configured to control activation of a low-friction clutch, wherein the low-friction clutch includes a first member coaxial to a second member and a controllable activation device interposable therebetween. The device includes a piston that is mechanically coupled to the activation device, a spring that is disposed to urge the piston in a first direction, a controllable electrical coil disposed adjacent to the piston. The electrical coil is disposed to generate an electro-magnetic force to urge the piston in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction when activated, and the spring and the electrical coil interact with the piston to selectively mechanically couple the first and second members via the controllable activation device.

Abstract: A device is configured to control activation of a low-friction clutch, wherein the low-friction clutch includes a first member coaxial to a second member and a controllable activation device interposable therebetween. The device includes a piston that is mechanically coupled to the activation device, a spring that is disposed to urge the piston in a first direction, a controllable electrical coil disposed adjacent to the piston. The electrical coil is disposed to generate an electro-magnetic force to urge the piston in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction when activated, and the spring and the electrical coil interact with the piston to selectively mechanically couple the first and second members via the controllable activation device.

Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine and a first electric machine each configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. A second electric machine is coupled to the engine to provide torque to start the engine from an inactive state. A high-voltage power source is configured to power both of the first electric machine and the second electric machine over a high-voltage bus. A propulsion controller is programmed to start the engine using cranking torque output from the second electric machine powered by the high-voltage power source. The controller is also programmed to operate both of the first electric machine and the combustion engine to propel the vehicle in response to an acceleration demand greater than a threshold. The controller is further programmed to decouple the engine and propel the vehicle using the first electric machine in response to vehicle speed less than a speed threshold.

Abstract: A selectable torque transfer system includes an input member to receive an input torque, and an output member that is selectively coupled to the input member. The selectable torque transfer system also includes an engaging member disposed between the input member and the output member and a biasing element configured to urge the engaging member towards a first position. The selectable torque transfer system further includes an electrically-powered solenoid configured to actuate the engaging member to a second position thereby enabling torque transfer from the input member to the output member.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic circuit, a clutch assembly for transferring torque between the input member and an output member. A mechanically-driven hydraulic pump is rotatably coupled to the input member and is fluidly connected to the hydraulic circuit. The clutch assembly includes a friction clutch pack, a clutch-apply piston, a clutch-release piston and a coned-disc spring. The clutch-release piston is fluidly coupled to a first hydraulic chamber that is fluidly coupled to the hydraulic circuit. The clutch-apply piston is fluidly coupled to a second hydraulic chamber that is selectively fluidly coupled to the hydraulic circuit. A second spring urges the clutch-apply piston and the coned-disc spring urges the clutch-release piston. When the hydraulic pump is not rotating, the clutch assembly is activated by the coned-disc spring urging the clutch-release piston.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic circuit, a clutch assembly for transferring torque between the input member and an output member. A mechanically-driven hydraulic pump is rotatably coupled to the input member and is fluidly connected to the hydraulic circuit. The clutch assembly includes a friction clutch pack, a clutch-apply piston, a clutch-release piston and a coned-disc spring. The clutch-release piston is fluidly coupled to a first hydraulic chamber that is fluidly coupled to the hydraulic circuit. The clutch-apply piston is fluidly coupled to a second hydraulic chamber that is selectively fluidly coupled to the hydraulic circuit. A second spring urges the clutch-apply piston and the coned-disc spring urges the clutch-release piston. When the hydraulic pump is not rotating, the clutch assembly is activated by the coned-disc spring urging the clutch-release piston.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine is located within a cylinder of the engine. The piston includes a dish-shaped depression in a surface of the piston exposed to a combustion chamber of the cylinder providing a recess from a nominal top of the piston. The depression includes a depression boundary located at the nominal top of the piston and proximate to an outer diameter of the piston, an apex, and inclined walls connecting the apex to the depression boundary.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine is located within a cylinder of the engine. The piston includes a dish-shaped depression in a surface of the piston exposed to a combustion chamber of the cylinder providing a recess from a nominal top of the piston. The depression includes a depression boundary located at the nominal top of the piston and proximate to an outer diameter of the piston, an apex, and inclined walls connecting the apex to the depression boundary.

Abstract: An adaptive load-limiting seat belt buckle presenter includes a plow assembly movable within a tube and connected to the buckle by cables. Movement of the plow assembly presents the buckle at various positions relative to the occupant. The plow assembly has a plurality of plow elements that engage with the tube to plow troughs in the tube when an occupant restraining load moves the plow assembly within the tube. A plow actuator mechanism selects a number of the plurality of plow elements to be engaged or not engaged with the tube to thereby adapt the load-limiting capability of the presenter. A controller and various sensors cooperate to operate an adjusting motor for translating the plow assembly within the tube to present the buckle at a desired position and to also operate a rotary actuator to select the number of plow elements that will be engaged or not engaged.